Female connector



July 10, 1962 B. E. oLssoN 3,044,040

FEMALE CONNECTOR Filed July l5, 1959 INVENoR. H//y Erik Olsson 3,044,040FEMALE CNNECTR Billy Erik Olsson, Chicago, lll., assignor to MaleoManufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a partnership Filed July 15, 1959,Ser. No. 827,212 S Claims. (Cl. 339-273) The present invention relatesto electric connectors and specifically to female connectors adapted toreceive stripped ends of electrical leads.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedelectrical connector.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved electrical connector for gripping a stripped end of anelectrical lead.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved female connector adapted to mechanically grip a wire-eyeterminal incident to its insertion within the connector and, inaddition, to provide good solderless, electrical connection between theterminal and the connector.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved female wire-eye connector that deforms a wire-eye terminalduring its insertion into the connector, whereby the wire-eye electricalterminal is resiliently gripped by and maintained in mating relationwith the connector. l

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a newandimproved female Wire-eye connector which offers progressively greatergripping action as a wire-eye terminal is withdrawn from the connector.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved connector that is susceptible to mass production techniques,and, thus, may be produced relatively quickly and inexpensively.

'Ihe above and other objects are achieved in accordance with the presentinvention by providing a new and improved female wire-eye connector. Theconnector is adapted to receive a stripped end of an electrical lead,for example, a wire-eye terminal, and is so constructed that thewire-eye terminal is detachably retained in mechanical and electricalengagement incident to its mating with the connector. Briey, theconnector comprises a crimp. -ing portion for iixedly securing anelectrical lead to the connector and a terminal receiving portion fordetachably gripping the wire-eye terminal. lIt should be appreciatedthat the crimping portion, per se, comprises no part of the presentinvention but that the terminal receiving portion embodies the featuresof the present invention. 'I'he terminal receiving portion includes aiioor provided with side walls extending upwardly from the door, partsof the walls having flanges overlying the floor to dene a passage foraccommodating the wire-eye terminal. A camming means is delined in theoor adjacent the exit of the passage to deform, in cooperation with theanges, the wire-eye terminal incident to its insertion into theconnector. y'In its mated position, the wire-eye terminal is seated onthe camming portion to be deformed by the cooperative action of theflanges and the camming portion and thus is resiliently gripped by thefemale econnector. The camming means is so constructed that the wire-eyeterminal during its initial withdrawal movement is deformedprogressively greater amounts, with the result that the progressivelygreater gripping action by the female connector is obtained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,taken with further objectsand advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vvire-eye female confr t BC@ 3,044,040

Patented July 10, 1962 FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of theconnector of FIG. 1. i

Referring now to the `drawing and in particular to FIG. 1, a connectorembodying the features of the present invention is illustrated and isidentified generally by reference numeral 10. The connector 10 is of thefemale type and may be identified as a female, Wire-eye connector 10because of its particular utility with male wire-eye terminals. Briefly,the connector 10 comprises a crimping portion 12 which is crimped overan end of a conductor 14 or the like to xedly secure the conductor 14 tothe connector 10, the conductor 14 being electrically connected tosuitable electrical devices. The connector also includes aterminal-receiving portion 16 adapted to detachably secure or grip abare wire end 118 of an electrical lead or conductor 20, hereinafterreferred to as a wire-eye terminal 18 in View of the generally curved oreye-shaped configuration of the end of the lead 20. The femaleconnector10 and the wire-eye terminal 1.8` when in mated relation provideasolderless connection yet also create a good mechanical and electricalconnection between the conductors 14 and 20. In an installationembodying the connectors 10, a plurality of conductors 20 arerespectively secured in spaced apart rows to a support. Pairs of theconductor 20 terminate in spaced apart contacts (not shown) which areadapted to be closed by an armature of a suitably energized relay. Sincethe conductors 20g are arranged .in rows, the terminals 18 extend ingenerally parallel relation relative to one another. A plurality offemale connectors 10 are connected to individual conductors 14 and areindividually moved into mating engagement with the Wire-eye terminals18.

As best seen in FIGS. l and 2, the wire-eye terminal 18 comprises thebare end of the electrical lead 20, which end is deformed into an eyeconfiguration. Specifically, the terminal 18 comprises a generallytoroidal tip 18a interconnected between a straight part 20a of theconductor 20 and a straight terminal end 19, the straight part 20 andterminal end 19 being divergingly related to one another.

The female connector 10 of the present invention is susceptible to massproduction techniques and specically is produced in large quantity lotsby automatic machinery. More particularly, the connectors 10 are cut outfrom strips of electrically conductive material, such as copper, brass,or bronze, and are formed into substantially the shape shown in thedrawing by successive deformation steps. If desired, the conductors 14can also be fastened to the connectors 10 by crimping the crimpingportion 12 about the stripped wire and insulation of the conductors 14by automatic machinery. Otherwise, the conductors 14 can be secured tothe connectors 10 manually.

In any event, the crimping portion 12 of the female connector 10includes a generally cylindrical body 21 provided with an axiallyextending, downwardly directed ridge 22 (see lFIGS. 3 -and 6) forimparting rigidity to the crimping portion 12. The crimping portion 12specifically includes a pair of converging large sized flanges 23crimped about the end of the insulation 24 of the conductor l14, as wellas two pairs of converging flanges 26 and 28 spaced axially to the leftof the flanges 23 and crimped about the stripped wire 30 of theconductor 14. By this construction, both the insulation 24 Iand thestripped wire 30 of the conductor 14 are mechanically secured to thecrimping portion 12 of the connector 10. In addition, a good electricalconnection is obtained between the connector andthe conductor 14.

Considering now the terminal-receiving portion 16 of the connector `10in greater detail, attention is directed to FIGS. 1, 3, and 5. YAsshown, the receiving portion 16 comprises a generally at iloor 34including a straight end 34a and a generally rounded end 34h. The4generally rounded end 34b vdoes not terminate but rather is integrallyrelated to the bottom ofthe body 21 and particularly to the ridge 22.Hence, the receiving portion .16 `and the crimping portion 12 are joinedtogether by a continuous and uninterrupted bottom surface. Along thelongitudinal edges of the door 34, la pair of integral walls 36 and 38extend upwardly at right angles to the door 34. VThewalls 36 and 38 Iaregenerally parallel to each other adjacent at their left ends, i.e., atthe left end 34a of the oor 34, as indicated at 36a and 38a, butgenerally curve and converge at theirY right ends, i.e., at the rightend 341'; or the door 34, as indicated at 36b `and 38h. VIn fact, thewalls 36 and 38 are integrally related to the pair of flanges 26,'respectively, so that continuous and uninterrupted side surfaces betweenthe receiving portion 16 and the crimping portion 12 are obtained.Accordingly, thereceiving `and crimping portions 16 and 12 areintegrally related at all points of juncture to provide a strong andrugged connector 10.

It should be understood that the inner surfaces of the -curvedupstanding walls 36b and 38b serve as stop means predeterminedV matingposition relative to the connector 10.' The Awalls 36h 'and 38b alsoprovide spaced-apart contact points 'which produce good electricalconnection between the wire-eye terminal 18 and the connector 10. Asbest illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of planar flanges 40 and. 42extend inwardly vfrom the tops of the walls 36 and 38 to overliethefloor 34. By this construction', the floor 34, the walls 36 and 38,andthe anges 40 land 42 define Aa passage 44 vwhich is slightlyoversized to easily accommodate the Wire-eye terminal 18. Morespecifically, the Walls( are'so'spaced apart and the anges 40 vand 42are so spacedfrom the iloor 34 that the tip 18d of the Vwire-'eyeterminal 18 is easily introduced into the niouthof the passage'44 andeasily yand freely moves throughout the entire length of the passage 44.

Considering now the lianges 40 and 42 in greater detail, they have aconfiguration best shown in FIG. Z. Each flange 40 or 42 is `of Ygenerally L-shaped configuration and includes leg portions 40a 'and 42aextending inwardly at V`=apprcorimately the middle of the receivingportion 16.

The leg portions 40a and 42a are in face-to-face relation ,and IareVslightly spaced `apart as clearly shown. rIn addition, the legs 40wrand'42a include terrrnal-engaging edges 46vtand 48, 'more clearly shown inFIGS. 3, 4, and 5, which coact with the 'camming means Adescribed belowto retain the terminal 18 in the connector 10. The edges 46 and 48extend transversely yacross the upper part of the exit of the passage 44and engage theA wire-eye terminal 18 during and after its insertion intothe connector 10. The anges 40h-and 42 are substantially rigid andnon-resilient so that the engagement of the wire-eye terminal18 with theengaging edges 46 and 48 effects little or no movement of the flanges 40and 42. Accordingly, the terminal-engaging edges 46 and 48 remainsubstantially rigid and, as described below, cooperate with the cammingmeans to bend or deform the terminal y18 when inserted into theconnector 10.

For the purpose of gripping the wire-eye terminal 18 in the receivingportion 16, the right end 34h of the licor 4 34 is provided with acamming means comprising an upraised, apertured embossment 50. As bestshown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the -apertured embossment 50 is 1ocatedcentrally of the right end 34b of the floor 34 to be equally spacedlfrom the curved Walls 36b and 38h and, in addition, -is positioned'adjacent the exit of the passage 44 so that the terminal 18 engages theembossment 50 immediately :after it leaves the passage 44. More specically, the embossrnent 50 has a generally upwardly convergingfrusto-conical Wall 52, as best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 Iand 5, whichincludes an upper rim 54 that is inclined upwardly from left fto rightas viewed in FIGS. 4 Iand 5 to be spaced slightly above the 'floor 34.The forward or left par-t of the wall 52, identiiied by referencenumeral S6, comprises a camming part gradually inclined at approximately3() degrees to the floor 34 for directing the wire-eye terminal 18 fromthe licor 34 onto the rim 54 of the embossment 58. On the other hand,the rearward or right portion of the embossment 50, as viewed in FIGS. 3and 6, comprises `an inclined seat -or the terminal 18 when 4in matingrelation with the connector 10. This inclined seat 58 is more sharplyinclined relative to the oor 34 than is the camming part 56. Forexample, it is inclined at approximately 45 degrees instead of 30degrees, since it serves to retain the terminal 18 in its mated positionand provides a more vertical surface to offer a greaterresistive forceto the Withdrawal of the termina-l 18 than the camming part 56l providesduring insertion of the termin-al 18. In any event, the seat 58 has agenerally curved surface that conforms to the extreme lower portion ofthe terminal tip 18a.

In operation, the connector 10 and the wire-eye terminal 18 are axiallyaligned and are moved relative to one another. Specically, either thewire-eye terminal 18 is moved toward and manually inserted into thepassage44 of the receiving portion 16 or the connector 10 is moved overthe wire-eye terminal 18. IIn .the installation referred to above, theconnectors 10, being connected to the individual conductors 24, areindividually moved toward and manually positioned over the terminals 18tixedly secured to the above referred to support (not shown). In anyevent, for the purpose of this description, it will be assumed that thewire-eye terminal 18 is moved toward the connector 10. As the terminal18 is moved toward the connector 10, the tip 18a of the terminal 18 isinserted into the passage 44 of the receiving portion 16. 'Inasmuch asthe passage 44 is slightly oversized relative to the wire-eye terminal18, the tip 18a of the terminal 18 freely and easily slides into andthrough the passage 44. Even though the terminal end 19 of the wire-eyeterminal 18 diverges relative to the conductor 20, the extreme end 19'and the conductor 20 do not simultaneously engage the Walls 36 and 38as the tip 18a of the terminal 18 enters'th'e passage 44 and, hence, noresistance lis oiered'to the terminal 18 as the tip 18a enters andpasses through the passage 44. Theretore, as the tip 18a of the wire-eyeterminal 18 moves through the passage 44, i.e., between the floor 34,the walls 36 and 38, and the flanges 40 and 42, the wire eye terminalv18 is freely slidable therein. Only after the tip 18a of the wire-eyeterminal 18 moves through and leaves the passage `44 is` a resistiveforce encountered. More speciiically,as the 'Wire-eye'terminal 18 leavesthe exit of the passage 44 and continues to'move rightwardly along theiloor 34, the tip 18a engages the camming part 56 of the embossment 50.YThe camming part S6' cams the tip 18a upwardly onto the rim 54, withthe result that the upperV surface of the terminal tip `18a engages attwo spaced points, identiied as `68 and 70, the edges 46 and 48 of theflanges 40 and 42, respectively. It will be appreciated that the spacedcontact points 68 and 70 change location on the edges 46 and 48 as theterminal of the generally toroidal configuration of the terminal tip nal18 onto the rim 54 of the embossment 50 causes the deformation of theinherently resilient terminal 18. Speciically, as the tip 18a of thewire-eye terminal 18 rides upwardly over the camming part 56, thewire-eyeI terminal 18 is deformed or curled upwardly, as viewed in FIG.4, the. points of contact 68 and 70 being further spaced apart on theengaging edges 46 and 48 than when the tip 18a initially engages theedges 46 and 48. It will be understood that the wire-eye terminal 18 iscammed onto the rim 54 only by applying to the terminal 18 an insertingforce Ihaving a magnitude greater lthan the resistive -force developedby the deformed terminal 18.

At about the same time Ithe wire-eye terminal 18 is cammed onto the rim54 of the embossment 50 as described, the terminal end 19 and theconductor 20 both engage the walls 36 and 38, respectively, therebycausing the eye of the terminal `18 to close slightly as it continuesits rightward movement. This result obtains because of the generallydiverging relationship of the terminal end 19 and the conductor 20. Itwill be appreciated that the coaction of the terminal end 19 and theconductor 20 with the walls 36 and 38 offers an additional drag force tothe insertion movement of the wireeye terminal 18.

Returning now to the rightward movement of the wireeye terminal 18 inthe connector 10, the terminal tip 18a continues -to move rightwardlyacross the rim 54 until it rides off the rim 54 into engagement with theinclined seat 58 of the embossment 50. The tip 18a of the wire-eyeterminal 18 remains seated on the inclined seat 58 and does not movedownwardly to the level of the oor 34 because of the stop meansprovidedby the walls 36b and 38b. In this connection, the curved walls 36b and38`b coact with the tip 18a of the wire-eye terminal 18 to preventfurther axial movement of the terminal 10, and, Ithus, prevent furtherdownward movement of the tip 18a. Since the walls 36'b and 38h aregenerally curved to coact with the terminal tip 18a, at least -twospaced points of contact are obtained between the tip 18a and the walls3611 and I31817. Although several points of contact probably exist, -forpurposes of positioning the tip 18a of the wire-eye terminal 18, onlytwo points A60 and `62 are necessary to restrain further axial movementof the wire-eye terminal 18.

It will be understood that since the tip 18a of the wireeye terminal 18is seated on the inclined seat 58 which is not at the same level as thefloor 34, the terminal 18 re mains slightly deformed when in matedrelation with the connector 10, i.e., the terminal 18 is deformedupwardly around or about the engaging edges 46 and 48 of the flanges 40and 42. Particularly, the contact points 60 and 62 of vthe curved walls36b and 38b, the inclined seat 58, and the engaging edges 46 and 48 ofthe anges 40 and 42 all coact together to bow the wire-eye terminal 18ina generally upward manner. It will thus be appreciated that theinherent resiliency of the wire-eye terminal 18 provides the `grippingaction Afor the connector and develops a gripping force to oppose thewithdrawal of the wire-eye terminal 18 lfrom the connector 10.

Although the wire-eye terminal 18 is 'firmly gripped by the connector10, the terminal 18 is, of course, detachably held by the connector 10to permit the terminal 18 to be disconnected from the connector 10.However, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, aprogressively greater clamping force is developed as the terminal 18 iswithdrawn lfrom the connector 10. By employing the inclined seat 58 onthe embossment 50, the tip 18a of the wire-eye terminal 18 must befurther elevated before the terminal 18 is withdrawn from the connector10. Therefore, as the wire-eye terminal 18 is withdrawn Ifrom theconnector 10, the terminal 18 is progressively more deformed so that theconnector 10 provides a progressively greater gripping action.

However, assuming that the withdrawal lforce is adequate, the tip 18a iscammed upwardly onto the rim 54 and is moved leftwardly over the rim 54toward the edges 46 and 48.l As the tip 18a moves along the downwardlyinclined rim 54, it moves downwardly to permit the tip 18a to passbeneath the edges 46 and 48 without wedging between the embossment 50and the flanges 40 and 42. Of course, once the tip 18a rides olf the rim54 and down the camming part 56 onto the door 34, the wire-eye terminal18 is easily and quickly withdrawn from the connector 10.

With the wire-eye terminal 18 mated in the connector 10, both a goodmechanical and good electrical connection are effected between thewire-eye terminal 18 and the connector 10. More specifically, at leastthe two contact points 60 and 62 exist between the wall portions 36h and38h and the tip 18a of the terminal 1'8 and, further, at least a contactpoint I64 exists between the tip 18a and the inclined seat 58. Inaddition, the following contact points also exist: contact points 68 and70 (see FIG. 2) between the upper surface of the wire-eye terminal 18and the engaging edges 46 and 48, respectively, contact point 72 (seeFIG. 2) between the terminal end 19l and the inner surface of the Wall38a, and contact point 74 (see FIG. 2) between the conductor 20 and theextreme left end of the wall 36a. It will thus be appreciated that aplurality of spaced-apart mechanical and electrical contact points areprovided between the various parts of the connector 10 and the'wire-eyeterminal 18 to provide a strong and rugged solderless connection betweenthe conductors 14 and 20.

-It will be appreciated that the hollow embossment 50 is alsoparticularly adapted to receive a bare wire, also referred to as ajumper wire. The jumper wire can be quickly inserted through theembossment 50, twisted in position, and then soldered to the wire-eyeterminal 18 and the connector 10. The jumper wire is employed tointerconnect pairs of connectors 10 or to interconnect a specificconnector 10l with an electrical lead. It will be understood that whenthe jumper wire is soldered to the connector 10 and the wire-eyeterminal 18, the connector 10 and the terminal 18 can not bedisconnected as described above. j

While the embodiment described herein is at present considered to bepreferred, it is understood that various modications and improvementsmay be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claimsall such modifications and improvements as fall within th true spiritand scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of theUnited States is: l v

l. An electrical connector adapted to receive a wire-eye terminal, saidconnector comprising a generally plane oor having first and secondsections, said first section being provided with an upraised, generallyinclined portion, which is'uncovered, stop means upwardly extending fromsaid iloor and spaced from said inclined portion to permit dispositionof the extreme end of said wire-eye terminal therebetween, and meansextending upwardly from said oor to overlie said second section of Itheoor only `and to coact with said wire-eye terminal, said oor means,inclined portion, stop means, and overlie means co-operating to deformand hold said wire-eye terminal in said connector.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein said overlie means and inclinedportion are so constructed and spaced relative `to one another vand tothe first section of the oor that the wire-eye terminal deformedprogressively greater amounts to progressively increase the clampingaction of the connector 4as--the terminal is withdrawn from theconnector.

3. The connector of claim 1 wherein a generally frustoconical embossmentis additionally included in the first section of the oor to deform saidwire-eye terminal incident to its insertion into said connector, Vsaidembossment including said generally-,inclined portion.

4. An electrical connector adapted to receive'a' Wireeye terminal, saidconnector comprising a generally plane iioor having in its iirst sectiona generally curved end and an embossment located adjacent said curvedend, side walls extending upwardly :from the side edges of said oor andbeing curved at said curved end, flanges located above a second sectionof the door and extending inwardly from the top ends of the side Wallsremote from said curved walls, said floor, said flanges, saidembossment, and said curved walls coacting to deform and retain 'saidwire-eye terminal in said connector.

5. An electrical connector adapted to receive a wireeye terminal, saidconnector comprising a generally plane iioor having a first sectionprovided with a generally curved end .and an embossed located adjacentsaid curved end, said embossment including a generally inclined part,curved side walls extending upwardly from the curved sides of the iioorat its curved end, the curved side walls and the embossment beingrelatively dirnensioned that said wire-eye terminal is seated on thegenerally inclined part of the embossment and not on the iiooradjacentits curved end when in connected relation with said connector,and means supported from a second section of said iioor -for coactingwith said wire-eye terminal Ito urge said terminal against said oor andinto seating relation with said generally inclined par-t.

6. An electrical connector adapted to receive a wireeye terminal, saidconnector comprising a generally plane iloor having a rst sectionprovided with a generally curved end and an embossment located adjacentsaid curved end, curved side Walls extending upwardly from Athe curvedsides of the oor at its curved end, said embossment and curved wallscoacting to elevate the extreme tip of said terminal relative to theoor,side Walls extending upwardly along a portion of the side edges of theiioor remote from its curved end, and inturned anges at a second sectionof the door only extending inwardly from the `top of the side Walls tocoact with the intermediate part of said terminal, said floor, inturnediianges, ern` bossmen'g and curved walls cooperating to deform saidWire-eye terminal so that the terminal is detachably secured to theconnector.

7, The connector of claim 6 wherein said inturned anges includeterminal-engaging portions equally spaced from said tloor and spacedadjacent to said embossment.

8. An electrical connector adapted -to receive a wire-eye terminal, saidconnector comprising a generally plane oor having a first sectionprovided with -a generally curved end and an embossment located adjacentsaid curved end, said embossment being generally frusto-conical inconguration and including a terminal seating portion adjacent the curvedend of the floor, side walls extending upwardly from the side edges ofthe iioor, said Walls being curved adjacent the curved end of saidfloor, and ilanges located at a second section of the floor only -toextend inwardly from portions of the side walls remote from the curvedoor end and 'adjacent to said embossment, said anges being planar andgenerally parallel to the floor to provide a terminal receiving passageslightly oversized relative 4to said terminal, said iioor, said anges,said seating portion of said embossment, Iand said curved Walls coactingto deform and hold the terminal in said connector. I

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS YGreat Britain i Apr. 16, 1958 Angus, I

